A judicial officer in a State has to possess reasonable limit of the faculties of hearing, sight and speech in order to hear cases and write judgments and, therefore, stipulating a limit of 50% disability in hearing impairment or visual impairment as a condition to be eligible for the post is a legitimate restriction i.e. fair, logical and reasonable."

Transport Commissioner C. Samayamoorthy on Tuesday told the Madras High Court that 24.42% buses operated by Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai had physically challenged friendly facilities such as lift mechanism, audio alert system and buzzer with switches to stop the vehicles in case of an emergency.

Plan likely to be part of interim Budget

Ahead of the 2019 election, the Rural Development Ministry has proposed that the monthly pensions of the elderly poor, disabled and widows be increased from the current ₹200 to ₹800. For those above the age of 80, the proposal is to increase the pension from ₹500 to ₹1,200 a month.

The Ministry has submitted the proposal, which would have an additional annual cost implication of ₹18,000 crore, to the Finance Ministry to be considered for inclusion in the interim Budget to be presented on February 1.

HYDERABAD:  For the first time in Telangana, a contingent of visually challenged students will be participating in a Republic Day parade. A team of 50 visually students - 26 girls and 24 boys - of Nethra Vidyalaya junior and degree colleges have been training for the last few days at  Parade Ground in Secunderabad ahead of their participation in the Republic Day Parade to be held at the same venue later this month. 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Special school organisations decided to intensify their protest against the LDF government’s apathy towards the demands of the schools. Over 1,200 people belonging to special schools in Thiruvananthapuram district held a dharna in front of the Secretariat on Thursday which was inaugurated by former KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran.